I think she decided at that point to keep herself pure for him. Diana's first pregnancy was a challenging time for the couple and the expectant mother was deeply unhappy. Diana's time at Balmoral was a test, on a grand scale. Diana also said in the interview that she thought Charles, who was 29 at the time, was 'pretty amazing'. Baby Stag Beetles are plump, c-shaped, cream-coloured grubs, like most of their scarab beetle relatives. Shortly after Diana leaves Balmoral, Prince Charles picks up the phone to Camilla Parker-Bowles to tell her what a success it has been. The facts: The royal family has a long tradition of bloodsports, but are not necessarily 'obsessed'. I googled the stag symbolism recently, after watching the film on Netflix, and found an article where Peter Morgan suggesting that the stag symbolizes the British Monarchy. Ardverikie Estate in the Scottish highlands provides the dramatic backdrop for The Crown. According to Junor, this portrayal is quite inaccurate; while Diana did battle bulimia for many years and felt isolated at Buckingham Palace, she did have people looking out for her and wasn't abandoned. In The Crown, Lord Mountbatten left 500 pages of instructions as to what he wanted at his funeral, including having Prince Charles do a reading. Their . She then goes back to her bedroom and is seen being violently sick in the toilet. ', The Crown's claims: Margaret Thatcher pursued the Falklands War, despite reservations from her cabinet, because of her son Mark's disappearance. His admission to Cambridge caused controversy at the time because his A-level grades were far below the standard normally required for Oxbridge entrance. hide caption. "The very quirks and obscure family traditions which have accrued over the years can intimidate newcomers," Morton in his book. And later, after her son Mark has been found, Thatcher is seen trying to persuade her cabinet that going to war in the Falkland islands is the right decision. ', 'Lovely her, dumpy me. After receiving a card from Camilla Parker Bowles, the two women meet for lunch at Mnage a trois at The Wolseley. ', The Queen goes on to question whether Princess Anne has 'been intimate' with a Detective Sergeant Peter Cross, who was Anne's personal bodyguard. While Thatcher attended, the Queen did not because she was on a tour of the South Pacific at the time. The man is reporting on the political situation in Egypt and the pictures of the female dancers are supposed to bring some comic relief to the male audience. ', When the Queen tries to reach for the phone, Fagan pulls it from her hand and ask her to 'give him a minute. And there's no evidence she ever turned up for outdoor activites wearing a formal skirt suit. And Charles at this point should have been married by normal (normal as of then) conventions. Mirren discusses bringing those qualities of Queen Elizabeth as a girl to the movie, the challenges of portraying a reigning monarch, and whether she thinks the queen will see The Queen. The facts:Prince Charles did propose to Diana in the nursery at Windsor Castle, but it's unlikely she went clubbing afterwards. Biographer Penny Junor doubts she had formal tutorials; she acknowledged that Michael Colborne, Charles' right-hand-man, talked her through what would be expected of her, but thinks she would have mentioned a 'crash course' in her interviews with Andrew Morton. However, Diana's account of the meeting in Diana: Her True Story is less favourable, believing Camilla used it as an opportunity to scope out the competition and ask leading questions that might help her continue to see Charles. Junor refutes the suggestion that Charles and Camilla spent the night together before his wedding, or that the pair never stopped seeing each other, claiming it's 'highly unlikely' because Camilla had already stepped 'right back', so he wouldn't have needed to end it face to face. Laurie Sparham/Miramax Films Together, the pair are met with cheers from the royal family when they return to the castle with the dead stag. Over three series of The Crown, the Netflix hit has become well known for bending facts to suit its narrative, and while some artistic licence is inevitable, the latest installment might just be the most outrageous yet in its rewriting of history and relationships. She says of young Lady Diana: 'She's perfect it must be written in the stars'. On the morning of 9 July 1982, 31-year-old Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace and made his way to the Queen's bedroom. One classmate of Charles's, John Stonborough, said that 'bullying was virtually institutionalised' at the school. Camilla was a close friend of Charles and one of his confidantes, so it is quite possible the two would have spoken about Diana. Prince Philip admits to seeing Lord Mountbatten as a father after losing his at a young age. Mrs. ', The facts: Princess Anne never courted the press and 'naff off' was her famous catchphrase, It's true that the Princess Royal never courted the press: 'She has never been the show pony, she is not there to promote herself,' says Penny Junor. ', The Crown claims: Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace and told the Queen about his political views (1982). The Queen goes on to watch the parade from home, where Thatcher, instead of the monarch, takes the salute. He told The Telegraph that Peter Morgan had used 'a lot of artistic licence' for the scene. In response, Prince Charles tells Philip that Lord Mountbatten was a father figure towards him, too. In the flat, Thatcher insists her daughter Carol help her prepare dinner for the chief of staff and her cabinet. Thatcher was deeply upset and was seen in tears when asked about the disappearance by the press. ', The Queen appears emotional as she recalls the conversation to Prince Philip who praises Thatcher for 'leading decisively after years of mismanagement. 'She didnt think it was the most romantic of proposals but she had the proposal. She moans to Prince Philip:'The prime minister taking the salute instead of the sovereign, doesn't that bother you? I think that woman is getting ahead of herself. 6 Crown Street, Aberdeen AB11 6HB Scotland +44 1224 592929 Website Menu. ', 'She talks like me and you, normal. Historian Andrew Lownie noted Lord Mountbatten had said something to this effect in April 1979. The Prime Minister is said to have considered her early visits to Balmoral 'purgatory', according to the Queen's biographer Ben Pimlott, and would arrange to leave as early as possible on the final day of the visit. The Crown's Prince Charles Josh O'Connor has opened up about how hard it was to film his character's "abuse" towards Princess Diana. Later in the episode Lord Mountbatten phones Prince Charles on the morning of August 27, 1979, while he is on holiday at Classiebawn Castle, Co Sligo. ', And when another cabinet member tells her that the idea is 'absurd' because it will take a long time for the ships to reach the Falklands, Thatcher says: 'Then I say we retake them. 'I remember thinking what a very jolly and amusing and attractive 16-year-old she was,' Charles said in the same interview. Both Margaret Thatcher and Lady Diana are guests, although in reality these visits took place a year apart. So, how much of the first half of the series - which runs for 10 episodes - is fact and how much is simply royal fiction? Charles was reportedly so proud of his modifications to the grounds at Highgrove, writes Sally Bedell Smith, that 'he took to lying on the floor near the windows of his house to eavesdrop on the conversations of people taking tours.'. A Stag overpowered by heat came to a spring to drink. It's an awkward encounter, with Camilla showing off how much she knows about the Prince of Wales' character and quirks, such as the fact he doesn't eat lunch or garlic, has a soft boiled egg with everything and loves the colour green - all of which Diana has no idea about. 'I barely knew my own father,' the Duke of Edinburgh says to Prince Charles. The government wanted to reassign Andrew to a desk job for his own safety. Here We Go Again three times in theaters, and that's pretty much all you need to know. The Crown's claim: Diana picked her own engagement ring. Philip apparently passed based on the fact that he went to school in Scotland and loves the outdoors. The following day, the Prime Minister turns up to go stalking wearing a skirt, blazer and dress shoes. This is the stag storyline of the movie: the royal family hears the news of Dianas death while they are staying at Balmoral. the voice says. But the Queen expresses sympathy for Fagan, questioning the prime minister about the state of the 'moral economy' in the UK. Andrew describes a film in which the actress stars in calledThe Awakening of Emily, which is 'set in the 1920s and follows an unimpressionable 17 year old girl who returns home from a finishing school in Switzerland to her mother's country house in the English countryside. 'She was funny, she was fun, everybody seemed to love her she made everyone laugh and she seemed to adore Charles.'. Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth II in her new film, The Queen, which looks at the royal family in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. He later tells the Queen Diana is 'not having an easy time of it' and adds: 'You're two very different women.'. 'I'm not going to listen,' he said. In the season 4 premiere, right before his death, Lord Louis "Dickie" Mountbatten ( Charles Dance) pens a letter to his great-nephew/honorary great-grandson encouraging him to settle down. The stag also has had deep symbolism for historic English kings. Thanks to her upbringing (Diana lived on the Sandringham Estate as a child and her father had been an equerry to the Queen), she had grown up mixing in royal circles and knew the protocols. Directed by Stephen Frears, The Queen is about how the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death in August 1997 nearly destroyed the royal family. I think she really, really loves the Highlands," Prince Andrews daughter Princess Eugenie said in the 2016 documentary Our Queen at Ninety, per Hello!. The facts: Diana did make her own choice, but it's unlikely the Queen was there. During the meeting, she enthusiastically informs the monarch that planes have 'now carried out bombings near the capital'. The facts: Royal experts and friends of the family have long claimed that Princess Anne is Prince Philip's favourite child. Seeing his own shadow reflected in the water, he greatly admired the size and variety of his horns, but felt angry with himself for having such slender and weak feet. Open now : 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM. John can be found on Twitter @BackoftheHead if you want to see photos of the food he eats. ', When the Queen questions if the film is 'even legal', Prince Andrew tells her: 'Who cares?'. 'Colborne was called away to a meeting down the corridor. Box 4666, Ventura, CA 93007 Request a Quote: taurus 1911 45 acp extended magazine CSDA Santa Barbara County Chapter's General Contractor of the Year 2014! 'It is a great place to be around the royal family and for them to get to know you. He shouts at her: 'Might I remind you she is not just your mother-in-law, but also the Queen of this country.'. We will never survive an unaffordable war. This doesn't rule out seeing the castle in person, though: Balmoral is open to the public during the months of April through July. Historian Sandbrook has called the conflation of Mark's disappearance with the beginning of the crisis is 'a complete fabrication. In The Queen, Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II, who is demoralized when her country turns on her and the royal family in the wake of Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash. It wasn't really any of her business.'. In 1982, Thatcher was facing criticism from both her cabinet and the public in response to her domestic policies. He insists he 'just hunts with Camilla and talk on the telephonewhen I need cheering up.'. She is also keen on pigeons racing and is expert marks woman having been trained during her national service where She served as a lorry driver &. Warning: SPOILERS for The Crownseason 4, episode 2, "The Balmoral Test". While he was thus contemplating himself, a Lion appeared at the pool and crouched to spring upon him. Known for her horsewomanship, hunting and fishing especially in Scotland and Norfolk. Tony Blair (Michael Sheen), the new Prime Minister, tries to make the Queen see the error of her ways and return to London to show a public display of grief about Diana's death, but the sovereign saw it as a private matter and she and the royal family remained at Balmoral, their castle in Scotland. Diana later calls her friends in anguish, telling them she hasn't heard from him in three weeks. Journalists and photographers who have just got it in for me. She is told there has been 'a dramatic escalation in radio traffic' and a large deployment on the way to the Falklands islands to invade. The Queen later gently suggests she goes home to change. ', She goes on to complain about the reaction of the press to Princess Diana, saying: 'All she has to do is put on a frock and everybody is falling over in shock at how wonderful she is. Claimed. It is also unlikely, given their relationship, that the two men would have had such an emotionally frank discussion about a topic close to their hearts. I'm a little surprised to be able to say this. Even if Thatcher got a big F on her test, she still got invited back to the property, as is customary for all prime ministers. For her role in it, Mirren is up for best actress. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles. Meanwhile historianSandbrook said it was 'plausible' that Thatcher served for the men in her cabinet but said it was unlikely that the prime minister had time to cook the food. Diana chooses a ruby piece from Burma at first, which belonged to the royal household, before instead opting for a sapphire piece surrounded by diamonds that was for sale. In the episode, Fagan and the Queen have a conversation in which he explains how Margaret Thatcher's policies were crushing Britain's working class. Lord Mountbattenhad referenced Edward when he wrote to Charles criticising him for leaving a family holiday early. Femail Reporters For Mailonline Fagan tells her: 'You're my last resort, someone who can actually do something.' CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 The monarch even travels to the nearby estate to see the stag's corpse. I'll be /trying/ to write these posts up one episode at a time (although I may watch ahead a bit of my writing), so there won't be spoilers for any main plot points of any episode except that which I'm covering in the post, although I may point out a little . The reference to Ireland rather than Northern Ireland could give rise to the impression that the entire island was under British rule, rather than the six counties, which are part of the United Kingdom. One element of truth is how little time Prince Charles and Lady Diana had spent together before their engagement in February 1981. ', Philip muses: 'It's interesting how much it clearly bothers you. Apparently a stag that size would have been shot down much sooner, but this one has survived somehow. 'The idea that you all of all people should lecture me on the sanctity of marriage You and Edwina hardly blaze a trail in that matter,' he says, in a reference to Lord and Lady Mountbatten's high profile affairs. she's be a suitable match for the heir to the throne, very much involved with the married Camilla Parker Bowles, Diana assists Philip in shooting and killing, The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher, from Grocer's Daughter to Prime Minister, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. He enters the building through a window and is able to walk into the throne room, where he sits in one of the thrones, before drinking a bottle of wine and smashing a vase. Over 230 shots in season 4 of Netflix's The Crown, Framestore helped build out the 1980s world as inhabited by the royal family. At first I thought the stag in this episode is just a stag - its role in the story to explicitly show how Diana passed the Balmoral test with flying colors. Meanwhile Charles told friends he was in a 'confused and anxious state of mind' hours before tying the knot, according to Ingrid Seward. The Queen Mother passed, but Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom Edward VIII abdicated the throne, failed. During the Queen's weekly audience with Margaret Thatcher breaks down in tears in front of her sovereign. One night she is seen heading downstairs to the kitchen where she gorges on various chilled desserts in the fridge. Here FEMAIL fact-checks just how accurate The Crown really is . 'It was wonderful to be able personally to give her the news that one of her islands had been restored to her. Despite getting a heads up about these "tests," Thatcher fails miserably: She shows up for cocktail hour dressed in formalwear for dinner, she doesnt bring outdoor shoes suitable for hunting, and she wears perfume while going stalking with the queen. She was moved into a suite of rooms at Buckingham Palace, as depicted in the episode, however this only happened after she returned from a two-and-a-half week trip to Australia with her mother and stepfather. The pair exchange a few words but never speak to each other directly face to face, leaving room for their proper 'meeting' later on in the series. The stag scene means different things to different people, including director Mirren, Stephen Frears and writer Peter Morgan. First Denis wrongly tries to give a tip to the staff, then Mrs Thatcher protests over someone else unpacking her husband's bag, and finally they come down for casual drinks dressed in black tie. 'How many times can this family make the same mistake? ', The facts:The Queen rarely spoke about the Falklands war in public and has made a policy of avoiding discussing politics or diplomatic negotiations. John Orquiola is Screen Rant's Star Trek Beat Editor, Senior Features staff writer, and interviewer. So I thought, that was great. At the start of the episode Mark Thatcher, aged 29, is seen taking part in the famous Paris Dakar rally with a group of friends and assures one he is 'ready' for the adventure ahead. 'He laughed with Anne in a way he never did with Charles. In one scene, she buries her head in her hands as her special adviser tells her the Argentinians have sent ships and covets to 'protect citizens'. It's also representative of masculine energy for fertility, renewal, and vigor. However she wasn't quite the outdoorsy country girl she pretended to be on that first visit. 'There she meets several twisted and perverted older predators who seduce the vulnerable and helpless young Emily as we follow her induction into sensual pleasures. Diana is seen calling her old flatmates who reassure her the remark was probably made out of embarrassment. 'Remember, when Philip was encouraging Charles to make up his mind about Diana, he sent a memo,' Junor told HistoryExtra. The Queen tells her: 'He wasn't violent. The facts:Mark Thatcher did take part in the rally, before going missing in the Sahara, for six days in January 1982. 'And Michael Colborne treated Diana like a daughter. Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth II in her new film, The Queen, which looks at the royal family in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. When I watched the movie for first time (which was years ago), I was confused by the symbolism of the stag. Later, the stag's head is mounted in the dining room at Balmoral. The Windsor family then goes stalking after the stag, which was also being hunted by the commercial guests of the adjacent property. The stag, which struggled in the water for around 90 seconds before sinking, suffered a "horrific end . Its around the same time, or after this, that she decides to agree to PM Blairs demands regarding how they should deal with Princess Dianas death. In a pivotal scene, the Queen gets stranded on the grounds of Balmoral and she sees a magnificent Imperial stag with 14-point antlers. This took place in1981, not in 1980 at Balmoral. A member of the royal family at Jesus college. The facts: Margaret Thatcher had to borrow wellies from the royals but it's unlikely she was ridiculed or spoken to rudely for wearing the wrong clothes. Later, she hears a commercial guest in one of the neighboring estate (like the Japanese man at the beginning of S4E2) has shot the stag. During the programme, Thatcher is seen being told about escalating tension and also warned that many of her members of staff, including her foreign secretary, are away on other business. Philip invited Diana, a prospective bride of Prince Charles, on an early morning stalking expedition and he's quickly impressed with her wit and charming personality. During the conversation, Lord Mountbatten cautions the Princeagainst continuing to see Camilla Parker-Bowles. The Crown's claims: Princess Anne felt the media 'had it in for her', told photographers to 'naff off' and hated the constant comparisons with Princess Diana. Sophie MutevelianNetflix. His crown was inset with stags. The entire family is impressed and sees Diana as a suitable choice for Charles. For many Pagans, the antlers of the stag are associated directly with the fertility of the God. But, because of those facts The Crown got right, along with the overall historical accuracy and the jaw-dropping production value, audiences may wrongly assume that the show is a . ', He continued: 'She viewed them both as lessening the stature of the Royal Family,' and that it brought, 'too much tabloid for her.'. There is also a chair belonging to Queen Victoria that guests are not allowed to sit on. Diana claimed they had only met each other on 13 occasions before their engagement, and most of those times there had been someone else present. They happen upon the Imperial stag and Diana's advice about the wind's direction helps Philip make the impressive kill. 'I was thinking, "OK, I wonder how this is going to go?". Queen Elizabeth has been a steady, stoic leader for some 63 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Yes, Jackie Kennedy really did badmouth the Queen. When I say they, its mostly Prince Philip and the boys (William and Harry). In a biography about her father, Carol Thatcher wrote: 'The rest of us could relax a little because Mark had hung an 'occupied' sign on the family's 'embarrassing relative' slot.'. Dennis Thatcher flew out to Algeria where he was reunited with Mark, with the Prime Minister gushing about her son on television. The fifth episode of season 4 of The Crown focuses entirely on Michael Fagan, who infamously broke into Queen Elizabeth's bedroom in 1982 as she slept. However, that's not what really happened; a 1982 article in The New York Times stated that . ', He explains: 'I just thought it might be good for you to meet someone normal who can tell it to you as it is.'. Share. Diana was a hit from her very first visit, according to Penny Junor. Thatcher tells her: 'My favourite Mark, a very special child, the kind of son any mother would dream of having, has gone missing.'. But that doesn't mean that Diana wasn't a smash hit with the royal family . Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, now wears the ring gifted to her by Prince William who said at the time of his engagement that it was his way of making sure his mother did not miss out on his wedding day. The Queen appears unimpressed, immediately asking if there have been 'any casualties'. In The Crown, a rare imperial stag is spotted on the grounds of Balmoral. The facts: Charles and Camilla's relationship was friendly but he did not sleep with her the night before the wedding. Royal expert Penny Junor doubts whether the Queen would have been present when Diana chose her engagement ring, telling HistoryExtra: 'I would be awfully surprised if that were true why would the Queen have been there? The Crown is good this year. The facts:While it might not have been exactly 500 pages long, Lord Mountbatten did leave detailed instructions about his funeral. King George VI wasn't sick yet in 1947. A recap of 'The Balmoral Test,' episode 2 of season 4 of Netflix's The Crown . When Diana assists Philip in shooting and killing the wounded imperial stag wandering the royal familys property, she is deemed an absolute triumph, and plans for the Spencer-Wales marriage go forward. The new series has already drawn criticism from viewers for starting off the series with 'IRA propaganda'. 'I think it is absolutely untrue that she and Charles slept together just before the wedding. She said: 'Prince Charles kept saying, "I want to do the right thing by my country. She bought Balmoral in 1848. The Crown's claim: Princess Diana's grandmother taught her royal etiquette. 'Dickie understood that and stepped in as a surrogate. ', 'I don't believe Charles phoned Camilla while his wife waited on the Tarmac to see him off on a foreign engagement. We must do something.'. Because the general tone of the movie makes us feel sympathy and respect towards the queen. When she is denied access to the monarch, Diana is seen childishly kicking bouquets of flowers in her bedroom and later breaking out into a wild interpretative dance during a solo ballet practice. In response, the shocked and . Much of the second episode is set in Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, where the Royal Family spend the summer. As the Radio Times notes, Thatcher didn't write about the Balmoral Test in her memoirs. And for a few seconds, Mirren's face changes completely, showing, by turns, wonder, joy, recognition and fear at the animal's beauty. S1E6, around 10:10: A man shows a slideshow of Egypt, the shot of the first dancer is quickly followed by another shot of a woman dancing with several snakes around her neck. was the stag really injured in the crown. The movie takes place as Tony Blair's Labour Party is coming to power, and is as much about the royal family's reaction to Princess Diana's death as it is about the monarchy's place in modern society. The Crown depicts Margaret Thatcher and Lady Diana's first visits to Balmoral taking place back-to-back. Thatcher tells her so far: 'The tide has turned and the recapture of the Falklands islands is within reach. Their demeanour is much warmer towards one another and the pair hold hands. The Crown season four covers some major moments in modern royal history, including the famously turbulent relationship between Prince Charles and Diana - but how much of the show is true? While Lord Mountbatten did write to Prince Charles about his love life on a number of occasions, he did not write to the royal on the morning of his death. The impression that all of Ireland was under British rule is, of course, entirely false, with direct rule ending in 1922 - aside from the six northeastern counties of Northern Ireland, which remained part of the UK. Attacks included the Guildford pub bombings of October 1974, which killed five people and injured 54, as well as the bombing of a pub in Woolwich, which killed another two people and injured 28. I soon found out. Prince Charles bites back, saying Lord Mountbatten is in no position to lecture on adultery. Forbidding marriages that should be allowed, forcing others that shouldn't, and paying the consequences each time,' she says. Extrapolating on what he said, if the queen did not act the way she did in the film, the monarchy could have suffered serious damage. The Crown is created by Peter Morgan, who also wrote 2006's The Queen, and both feature an Imperial stag that ties into Princess Diana's story. You've asked me to get married to somebody and I've fixed it. Before Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson) and her husband Denis (Stephen Boxer) visited Balmoral for the first time, the royal family gathers at breakfast and shares the exciting news that a 14-point Imperial stag has been spotted on the grounds, which hadn't happened in years. In real life, Diana really did pass the Balmoral test with flying colours, however, she was later reportedly "unhappy and bored" there. The stag. They're depicted in the show by Ben Miles and Vanessa Kirby, seen . Engagement rings for royals are usuallycustom-made which meant that it was almost unheard of whenPrince Charles allowed Diana to choose her own ring. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. When Charles rather cattily suggests that she picked that one because it was 'the most expensive', Diana replies that it was because it reminds her of her mother's engagement ring and matches her eye colour. The Crown portrays an unlikely scene of her breaking down in tears to the Queen about the disappearance of her son, Mark, in Africa, and her emotional state impacting her decision to go to war - whereas in reality he had already been found months before the Falklands crisis. Mark Thatcher did take part in the rally, before going missing in the Sahara, for six days in January 1982. Do you think we could? While it's likely she would have offered Diana advice, it's not known if Lady Fermoy gave her strict royal lessons. Viewers were left shocked to find the explosive fourth series - introducing fans to key royal events from the 1970s and 1980s - opening with the Queen attending Trooping The Colour with a voiceover calling on the IRA to redouble its efforts to make 'the Crown leave Ireland forever. She wrote: 'Although many have claimed that Mountbatten was the significant influence in Philips life and development, this is an overstatement. Though there's no evidence that the Queen disapproved of her son's project, the fact that Charles's sensitive character was distinct from both his more practical parents was no secret.